The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-08-17
The Teachers Institute.

Mr. EDITOR do not profess to have
been favored with the gift OF prophecy, but
in keeping with that universal axiom,
coming events cast their shadows before,
it must be plain to the least discerning mind
that the time is not far distant, when the
teachers Institute shall be universally ac-
knowledgeG There are very many lnstanc-
es that might be cited TO show that we, as
teachers, are coming" The advancing
step of millions OF children can be Ecrad IL
the distance, and the Anglo-Amerlcans are
becoming restive. There IS u cloud 10 larg-
er than mans hand appearing upon the
disc of our horizon. that bespeaks 4 great
change about to take place in the affairs OF
education We. as teachers, must continue
10 lecture upon tie material and educational
advancement The age demand II ii We ex-
pect to keep pace with the progress Of the
18th century.
An army 400, 900 strong is now charged
with the education OF our lG,Ou0.U CSC yo1ths.
That more than one-haif Of our school child
ren are il the hands Of the utterly lncom-
petent, is al astounding fact. Some far
reaching and all-pervading agency which
will etectually reach the entire body OF
teachers is demanded. We must have or
ganizaticn, and well-detined plans OF work
and executive power. In the eternal fitness
of things, the teachers institute comes to
the front as the required agency. The teach
ers' institute, though still IN its infancy. s
assuming mammoth proportions, ana IS
destined to become permanent part OF our
educational system. No means tor It's per-
fecticn should he spared We need lnstl-
tutes Il; to train our 100000 unframed
teachers; (2) to keep trained teachers bright;
(3) to foster q professional spirit; (4) to
lead teachers 70 profoundly study child
nature, and the science and art OF human
culture Then the coming teacher will til
and honored position among the illust-lous
of the earth; he will stand in the arena OF
thought and action, the peer of the states
man, the clergyman, and the philosopher,
he will ponder well tie great problems OF
humanity; teaching requires talent OF the
highest order Too long have theology,
medicine, law, and commerce, absorbed our
best men; too long has tie error prevailed
that any one can teach children. Society
should demand her most gifted men and
women for the school-room. Philip thank
ed the Gods that Alexander was born when
he could have Aristotle for teacher. Eve
~ child has as much right to skilled lnstruc-
ton as the son Of a king The world S great
work is to provide efficient teachers for the
masses for under his plastic hand the entire
nature OF the child-physical, mental, and
moral--wil! bud, and blossom, and bear
fruit The gandeSt noblest manhood Will
be the product; then humanity will enter
upon the sublime phases Of human poss!bil,
tiles toretold by posts and phiianthropists.
Then will be realized universal education
and universal brotherhood Then will we
cling to it with such undying devotion rs
the christian pilgrims OF the middle age
cherished the last fragment of the cross.
And in conclusion, know of no better open
ing for skilled teachers, than here in the
sweet sunny South, where the naocking bird
sings Us to sleep every night and the mag
noliss kiss our cheeks in the morning.
J. D. BLACKWELL.
Summerton, August 5th. 1887.